It’s All In Your Head Ch 17: Restrain, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, torture, sexual content (yaoi), & angst.

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 17: Restrain

Naruto slowly blinked the sleep from his eyes, feeling confused and completely disoriented. He was lying on a patch of grass, his arms and legs bound tight with thick rope. He tried to access his chakra, but he couldn't sense it.

Chakra-blocking rope.

Fantastic.

Darkness was looming above the towering trees, but a warm light cut through it, illuminating a small clearing around him. He groaned as he slowly lifted his head, glancing up towards the source of the light. A small fire rose from a stack of crackling logs. Itachi sat close to it, the firelight illuminating his otherwise dark, hollow eyes. He looked over the flames and his gaze landed on the mostly conscious blonde lying a few feet away.

"So, you're up."

Something heavy slammed against the ground, tearing Naruto's attention away from the Uchiha. A fierce smile gleamed back at him, stretching a harsh angular face. Based off the cloak he wore, he was likely another Akatsuki member. Those black cloaks, covered in blood red clouds, felt like a warning- a promise of more darkness. Of more pain. The sight of them made him nervous.

"W-why am I here?" Naruto croaked, his voice rough, his throat dry.

Itachi eyed him for a moment, then turned to his partner. "Kisame, bring the jinchurki some water."

The shark-like Akatsuki member laid down his massive sword, then rose to his feet. Naruto felt a spark of fear as the man moved towards him, very aware of how powerless he was. But Kisame simply pulled out a canteen, propped him up, and poured water down his throat.

Naruto turned his head and coughed violently when the liquid rushed down too fast.

Kisame looked irritated by it.

"How can a demon host be so fucking weak" he growled.

Despite his clear annoyance, he gave the blonde more before recorking his canteen. He dropped Naruto unceremoniously to the ground and moved back to his spot by the fire.

Naruto looked over at the stoic raven once more. "What did you do to Sasuke?"

Itachi eyed him. "I left him where I found him."

Naruto swallowed, afraid to ask but needing to know for sure. ".. alive?"

Itachi seemed amused. "Obviously. I still have use for him."

"Then why isn't he here?"

"It was unnecessary to force him" Itachi said smoothly. "We both know he will come after me on his own. My little brother is obsessed with revenge.." his eyes shined, "and with you."

Naruto looked away. "He saw what I am. He's not coming.."

"You underestimate his interest in you." Itachi said. "No matter. All will be clear very soon."

Naruto suddenly felt a rush of anger towards the man. Anger for himself, anger for everything Itachi has done to Sasuke- for how much pain he's been subjected to. "You don't need Sasuke. You have what you want!" He swallowed back the fear that pushed through his mind at the thought. "Why can't you just leave him alone?"

"Because of you, Naruto."

Cerulean eyes widened with horror. "What..?" he breathed.

"Sasuke's pain brings Kyuubi to the surface. That seal of yours weakens when your precious "friend" is hurt. With my little brother, I have the key to unleashing the Nine Tails. We will be able to harness its chakra, and you will be powerless to stop it."

"No!!" Naruto fought against his restraints, panic coursing through him. "Don't do this! Please! You can do what you want to me, just leave Sasuke out of it!"

Itachi smiled. "I'm afraid I can't do that." He tilted his head, eyeing the desperate blonde. "And you only have yourself to blame."

Tears filled those blue eyes, and he quickly looked away as he fought to get his emotions under control. "I won't let you do this" he whispered. "I will stop you, Itachi."

"You can certainly try."

"This kid thinks he can stop the Akatsuki?" Kisame laughed. "Heh. Yeah, good fucking luck."

Kakashi found Sasuke deep in the forest on the outskirts of Konohagakure, frantically searching for any clue, any sign of where Itachi went. The longer he went without finding anything, the higher his frustration grew. By the time Kakashi showed up, his anger was explosive.

"Where the fuck are you?!!" Sasuke screamed, sending a massive surge of chakra into a nearby tree. Shards of bark veered in all directions as the towering oak toppled to the ground.

"Sasuke."

The raven spun around, sharingan glaring. "Fuck off. I don't need you. I don't need anyone! I will find them. I'll stop Itachi myself!"

Kakashi walked towards him, unaffected by his outburst. "You and I both know that you need help finding them."

Sasuke opened his mouth to argue, but Kakashi cut him off. "Is your pride worth Naruto's life?!" he shouted, his calm slipping. He needed to get through to the raven, and he didn't have time to tip-toe around his feelings.

Sasuke's eyes filled with pain. Kakashi's words cut deep. "Fine." He dropped his gaze. "What did you have in mind?"

Kakashi bent down and summoned his Ninken. He gave a quick command for them to track Naruto's scent, and the dogs took off in different directions. He thought for a moment, then called one of them back. He gave him a quick recap of the situation and sent him to the Hokage instead. "We'll need back-up if we're going after the Akatsuki" he explained.

Sasuke chose not to respond.

"It shouldn't take them long." Kakashi said. "In the meantime, we need to come up with a plan."

"We don't have time for this" Sasuke snapped. "Naruto is-"

"Sasuke! We will likely have to infiltrate an Akatsuki base on our own. Black ops will probably join us soon, but we need a plan if we are going to survive long enough to find him."

Sasuke clenched his jaw, his mind racing with thoughts of what the Akatsuki could be doing to his blonde.

Kakashi watched the raven closely, making sure his words were sinking in. "This isn't going to be easy, Sasuke. You need to rein in your emotions and think."

"I know." He looked up. "Ok, what's the plan?"

Kisame threw Naruto over his shoulder, easily- like he was just another Samehada.

This is fucking humiliating, Naruto thought.

"I can walk, asshole."

The shark bounced him on his shoulder, smirking at the blonde's gasp. "It's funny how you think you have any control here."

Naruto ground his teeth together. He hated that the gruesome monster was right. "Fucking shark.." he grumbled.

"Cocky fox" he shot back.

Naruto fell silent.

Save your energy, he told himself. When you see an opening, take it. He winced as his stomach roughly bounced against the man's steel-like shoulder again. They have to let their guard down sometime.

I'll get myself out of this.

I have to.

Before Sasuke tries to.

He chewed on his lip, anxiety swirling through him. Please, Sasuke. Just do us both a favor and stay as far away as possible.

Pakkun reappeared sooner than the two anticipated. They had just finished making a plan when they spotted the hound running towards them. Kakashi shot to his feet. "Did you find the trail?"

Pakkun nodded.

"Show us the way."

The three leapt through the trees, moving fast. Kakashi yanked his headband up once more, his crimson eye gleaming in the surrounding darkness. The two sharingan holders ran side by side, equal parts hope and dread surging through them as they followed the path the Akatsuki took.

The path they dragged Naruto down.

Please be ok, Naruto, Sasuke thought, desperation clawing at his chest and burrowing in his mind.

Please, be ok.